Electrolux, Sweden's largest appliance manufacturer, is to deploy
GSM technology to monitor and alert health providers and other
customers when mission critical refrigeration units fail.
Initially, the technology will be targeted at medical applications
and specialist markets. Electrolux claims global system for mobile
communication technology (GSM) will reduce customers' costs
compared with monitoring refrigeration units via leased lines or
specialist radio networks.
"This is Electrolux's first step into the cutting-edge world of
telematics and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication technology,"
said spokesman, Pelle Lidberg.
The company predicts that GSM technology will open up new services
for cold store and refrigeration managers such as preventative
maintenance and outsourced management services.
FreezeWatch will be used to monitor sensitive medical supplies such
as blood, Plasma, Organs and tissue samples. Currently, most of
these refrigeration units use audible alarms to alert medical staff
when temperature problems or mechanical failures occur.
Hamish Kuzminski, communications director for Cellpoint, developer
of the Electrolux FreezeWatch solution, said, "We believe that this
is a first but it's unlikely to be confined to refrigeration
technology. The pervasiveness of GSM makes it suitable to a whole
range of tasks and we're likely to see similar solutions in other
vertical markets such as automotive and medical."
Kuzminski pointed out that unlike with fixed links or limited range
radio networks, GSM's wide area coverage allows the technology to
be applied to refrigeration units in ambulances or remote
locations.
Estimates from both Orange and PricewaterhouseCoopers suggest that
M2M usage of GSM technology could become the single largest
application for the technology by 2005.
Electrolux has had 10 orders of the GSM enabled industrial
refrigeration unit since its launched at the start of June and
expects to sell 200,000 units over the next three years.
Will Garside